RT Journal
T1 LOndon
JF Journal of the American Medical Association
JO Journal of the American Medical Association
YR 1919
FD December 6
VO 73
IS 23
SP 1783
OP 1785
DO 10.1001/jama.1919.02610490047025
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.1919.02610490047025
AB Nov. 13, 1919.Death of the Middle Classes
Under this title the Times emphasizes what is perhaps the most important result of the declining birth rate. The most recent report on this subject, that of the health officer for Chester, states that in 1918 there were 132 fewer births in Cheshire than in 1917. The rate for the county is now 15.9 per thousand of estimated population. That for England and Wales is 17.7, and for London, 16.1. Comparing these figures with the birth rate for the decennium 1901-1910 shows that the latter was 27.2. Going further back, the subjoined table may be constructed:In the same period (1851-1910) it is true that the death rate fell by 30 per cent. A large proportion of the fall is to be ascribed to the reduction of the infant death rate and to measures of public hygiene. The result has been that